Folding box



J. SCHER FOLDING BOX Nw. 23, 194s.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 3, 1945 Z5 x INVENTOR. lst-PH SCHH? a? l 'J-SCHER FOLDING BOX Nov. 23, 1948.

4 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 3, 1945 Patented Nov. 1948 4UNITED STATESPATENT' orrica This invention relates to folding containers, land hasfor its principal object the provision of an improved box of reinforcedconstruction which is simple and inexpensive to construct, which may beshipped flat, and which may be set up in a minimum period of time.

The folding box of the present invention has particular application inthe shipping of foods, particularly frozen foods including fruits,vegetables and meats, wherein a container having insulating value, aswell as one having very con'- siderable strength to allow of stacking.of a considerable number of boxes, one upon the other,

is desired. The box of the present invention,

which, of course, will have many uses other than for the packing andshipping of frozen foods, is desirably formed from a single blank ofmaterial which is die-cut to shape and the lines of fold preferablyformed at the same time.

The single blank includes interlocking top closure flaps as well as thebottom wall, multiple end walls of very considerable compressivestrength, and reinforced side walls. The latter are of uniqueconstruction in that they provide a relatively narrow reinforcing bandat each end of .the box which not only reinforces the containervertically and laterally, but also provides means for spacing thecontainer from the containers on each side as well as above and belowsuch container. In addition to preventing crushing of the contents,these bands form an air space between containers over'a major portion ofthe wall surfaces. All parts of the assembled container are sointerlocked as to cause each vertical wall portion to cooperate with theother wall portion to make the box a true load carrying container. Themultiple end wall construction is also unique, not only in that itprovides a high order of compressive strength, but also in theinterlocking arrangement and self-locking corner construction.

The box of the present invention affords a high order of protection forthe contents, and cushions the articles, preventing breakage and otherdamage. Compared with an ordinary box of single wall construction, thebox of the present invention is truly load carrying. The blank for thebox, however, requires only a minor amount of extra material overwhat isrequired for single wall construction.

y In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container forming an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is similar to'Fig. 1, but shows the container with the closureaps in open position.

Vlo

1 claim. (ci. 22a-34) v 3 is a perspective view showing the blankv'which is used in forming the container in partiallyassembled condition.

Fig. 4 isa broken perspective `view showing the closure flaps inpartially interlocked position.

Fig. ,5 is a broken horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a, transverse section taken on line I- .of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a broken vertical section ltaken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the blank used in forming .the container.

The blank I0, which is illustrated in plan view ,the blank, and byspaced, transverse fold lines i3 which extend the width of the blank.Adjacent the fold lines I2 are side wall portions i4 defined by foldlines i2 and by longitudinal fold lines i! which likewise extend thefull length of the blank Adjacent the side wall portions i4 are closurefiaps 20 on one side of the container, and 2l on the other side thereof.C'losure flap 20 has attached thereto an extension 22 formed alonglongitudinal fold line 23. Closure flap 2| is of substantially the sameshape as closure flap 20 plus extension flap 22, but need nothavelongitudinal fold line 23, fold line 23 being formed to facilitateinterlocking of the closure aps. The portion of closure flap 2icorresponding to extension flap 22 is somewhat longer than flap 22, asshown at 24 in Fig. 8.

It was earlier pointed out that a reinforcing band extends completelyaround the container whenv in closed position at each end of such closedcontainer. This band, indicated generally by the reference numeral 25,is formed of two strips 2B and 21 vextending transversely of the blank,the latter being slightly wider than the former for a reason which willbe pointed out, strip 26 being defined by transverse fold line i3 and atransverse fold line 28. Strip 21 is defined by transverse fold line 28and another fold line 29, both of which extend the full width of theblank.

Outer end wall 32 is carried along the central portion of strip 21 andis defined at its upper end by fold line 33. If the container is madefrom relatively heavy corrugated board, it will be desirable to formcut-out portions 34 on each side of outer end walls 32. Adjacent theouter edge of outer end wall 32 is a short strip 35 defined by fold line33 and a fold line 33, and adjacent the latter fold line is inner endwall portion 31. On the right-hand side of the blank, when viewed as inFig. 8, an intermediate end wall 4| ls formed along fold line 29, andcarried along fold line I9 to the right of ap 4I is another intermediateend wall 42. On the opposite side of the blank, intermediate end wall 43is carried along fold line 29, and flap 44 forming another intermediateend wall is carried by flap 43. Inasmuch as flaps 43 and 44 encloseflaps 4| and 42, a, central portion 45 is formed between flaps 43 and44, such portion being defined by fold line I9 and a fold line 43.

To assemble the container from the fiat blank of Fig. 8, strips 21 arefirst folded inwardly along fold line 3 so that they overlie the outersurfaces of portions II, I4, 20 and 2|. Strips 21 are then foldedoutwardly along fold lines 23 so that they occupy the position shown inFig. 3.l Bide walls I4 are next folded upwardly along fold lines I2.Next, outer end wall 32 is folded upwardly, and ilap 42 is foldeddownwardly over flap 4|. Flaps 4| and 42 are then moved inwardly, andnext ilap 44 is folded over flap 43 and the two are moved inwardly inclosing folded flaps 4| and 42. Inner end wall 31 is next foldeddownwardly over flaps 4|, 42, 43 and 44. This operation is repeated atthe opposite end of the box, and the box is now assembled for packing.It will be noted that because of the fact that transverse strip 21 iswider than transverse strip 23, there is a space (see Figs. 3 and 4)between fold line I3 and the inner surface of outer side wall 32. Thewidth of this space should be equal to the combined thickness of endwalls 4I, 42, 43, 44 and 31. Thus, when the latter end wall is moveddownwardly into place, it is received and secured within the recessadjacent edge I3.

When the packing is completed, the closure 'flaps may be moved in closedposition as follows.

Closure flap 2| is moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, andclosure flap 22 then moved downwardly. 'Ihe opposed terminals ofextension flap 22 are then moved into the recesses formed betweenclosure flap 2| and strips 23 forming part of bands 25. 'Ihis operationis facilitated by longitudinal fold line 23.

The box oi' the presentinventionis illustrated in the drawings as beingformed with unapertured walls. In many instances, however, it will bedesired to provide ventilation for the contents, and in such instancesone or more ofthe walls may be formed with suitable openings.

While one form or embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribedvherein for illustrative purposes, and the construction andarrangement incidental to a specific application thereof have beendisclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that theinvention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangementof parts, nor to its specific embodiment shown herein, but thatextensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of theinvention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

What I claim is:

A folding box including a base, inner and outer end walls, intermediateend walls, side walls. upper walls forming closure ilaps, andintegrallyformed `reinforcing bands extending around the box at each endthereof, the box being formed from a single blank of sheet materialhaving a plurality of intersecting fold lines defining such base andwalls, the inner and outer end walls being disposed longitudinally ofthe base, the intermediate end walls being disposed longitudinally ofthe side walls, and the remaining walls being disposed laterally thereofand being defined at opposite ends thereof by a pair of spaced,transverse fold lines, each reinforcing band comprising a pair ofadjacent strips of unequal width separated by a fold line and lyingtransversely of the blank between one of said transverse fold lines andadjacent the end wall portions the outer strip of eachpair being widerthan the inner strip, which strips are folded back in overlappingrelation on the outer surface of the box, and forming an external foldline extending around the box at a point spaced from the end thereof,and an internal fold line extending around the box between the externalfold line and such end, the internal fold line providing an internalabutment which is engaged by the inner end wall for retaining the latterin position,

JOSEPH SCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

